Chapter 8:

Friday came faster than anticipated and Ginny regretted her desicion already. Just do it for Amber, she told herself.

Classes had just ended and right when Ginny was about to take a look in her closet, she heard knocking on her door. As she opened the door, Pansy came in. Without looking up at ginny, she began rambling.

Pansy: Ginny, I really need your help. I've got this stupid potions essay due to Monday, but I'm really stuck on the Calming Draught. I mean it's- Are you alright?

Pansy had finally looked up from her parchment she was holding. Ginny was still holding the door from opening it, and looked very pale.

Ginny shook herself out of her thoughts.

Ginny: Y-Yeah, I'm fine.

Ginny sat down on her bed. Pansy, now very concerned, came to sit next to her.

Pansy: You don't look like it. Are you getting sick?

Pansy laid her hand on Ginny's forehead to feel her temperature, but Ginny pushed it away.

Ginny: I'm fine.

Pansy: You know you can tell me if something's the matter, ey.

Ginny: It's just… I've got this… business meeting. And I'm just really not feeling it.

Pansy: Wait, a- a business meeting? With whom?

Ginny: Pansy, you have to swear me on your life, that you will, never tell this to anyone, okay?

Pansy: O-Okay?

Ginny: I'm meeting Malfoy in 2 hours' time.

Pansy: Malfoy? Draco Malfoy? Draco Malfoy as in dumped-Amber-and-left-us-to-pick-up-the-pieces Draco Malfoy?

Ginny nodded ashamed.

Pansy: Okay… Plot twist

Ginny: I'm just doing this for Amber, okay?

Pansy: Okay, wait, so you're going on a date, oh, sorry, business meeting with the dude Amber likes, to help Amber…

Ginny: Yep.

Pansy: Okay, wait, I think I missed something here.

Ginny: Okay, so, as you know Malfoy and Amber kissed and he dumped her right after and hurt her really bad. And so it comes down to that I now have to spend half an hour with him and then he will leave amber alone. For good.

Pansy: And you don't think Amber will be hurt if she finds out that you're secretly going on a "non-date" with the guy she likes.

Ginny: She won't find out. I'll take care of that.

Pansy's face then broke out into a devilish smile.

Pansy: So, you know what you're wearing, yet?

Ginny rubbed her temples.

Ginny: Honestly, I haven't got a clue.

Pansy squeeled and made her way to Ginny's closet. About half an hour later, Ginny found herself looking in the mirror, as she was wearing a short black tennis skirt, a brown tank top, an oversized, grey sweater and black converse with white socks sticking out.

Ginny: Nope

Pansy: Come on! You look cute.

Ginny: Absolutely not-

There was knocking on the door, and ginny went to open up. There was a young girl standing in the hallway. She was called Lisa, ginny recalled.

Lisa: There's a- There's a boy waiting for you by the portrait hole.

Ginny looked back at Pansy, who stuck her thumps up.

Ginny: I can't go like this!

After 10 minutes of Pansy trying to drag Ginny out of the room, Ginny finally found herself by the portrait hole. With one final push from Pansy, Ginny walked out into the corridor.

There he was, standing a few feet away, leaning against the wall. When he spotted, his famous grin appeared on his face and he stood up straight. Ginny rolled her eyes at him.

Ginny: You're too early.

Draco shrugged.

Draco: Thought, maybe I'd get more than half an hour.

Ginny shook her head.

Ginny: We agreed on 30 minutes. And those 30 minutes start… now.

She had taken his arm to see the time on his watch. Ginny then started walking. He joined her.

Ginny: You ready for the most boring half an hour of your life?

Draco grinned at her.

Draco: Definitely.

The evening was warm, the wind motionless. As they reached the astronomy tower, there was a blanket, a bottle of champagne and two glasses on the floor. Ginny couldn't help but roll her eyes at him again.

Draco went to sit on the blanket. Ginny stayed put.

Draco showed her the bottle of champagne like he was some waiter in a 5 star restaurant.

Draco: Champagne?

Ginny: I don't drink.

Draco put the bottle down.

Draco: Sorry about that. Bad move.

Ginny leaned on the bars of the astronomy tower, looking out into the sky.

Ginny: Not your first one.

Draco stood up from the blanket and stood next to Ginny.

Draco: You see that house, over there?

He pointed to a house, somewhere behind the black lake.

Draco: The small, high one? Used to be from my grandparents.

He started laughing.

Draco: It had these dark rooms with old furniture. Fucking creepy.

Then it was Ginny turn to laugh.

Ginny: You really think I'm going to fall for this.

Draco: For what?

Ginny: This stupid theatre.

Draco: Theatre?

Ginny: I bet you're coming up with some sad childhood story now. About how lonely your youth was.

Ginny rolled her eyes again, and Draco laughed.

Draco: Okay, no more childhood stories. Is there something you do want to know, though?

Ginny: When this is over.

Ginny looked him dead in the eyes. Draco sighed.

Draco: About me?

Ginny: How are you going to tell Amber she can't come to your house party anymore?

Draco:…I'll just tell her something came up.. and that it's not happening anymore.

Ginny nodded her head in approval, but didn't look him in the eye.

Draco: Anything else?

Ginny: Nope. You really don't interest me.

Draco: Then why are you here?

Ginny: Because you made me.

Draco let out a laugh.

Draco: And, how exactly did I do that?

Ginny: By inviting Amber over to that party.

Draco: I invited all of you.

Ginny: You knew how she'd react.

Draco: I knew how you'd react, had I asked.

Ginny: Oh so you manipulate someone else to get to me?

Draco: Who is the one that has to call of the party to not hurt anyone. You think that was easy?

Ginny: You didn't have too.

Draco: Yeah, but I did. For you. I just hoped you'd come to the party. And now I have an hour. With you. Alone. Without Amber knowing.

Ginny bend a bit forward, looking at his watch.

Ginny: Actually, there are only 13 minutes left.

Draco: Or does Amber know?

Ginny: No.

Draco: Why not?

Ginny: It's sensitive.

Draco: So, you lie to your friend and blame me?

Ginny: I didn't lie. And by the way, I am here right now to tell you I'm not interested.

Draco: Why not?

Ginny: When you told Amber, she was worth nothing? How could you say that?

Draco: I didn't want her to catch feelings.

Ginny: And there's no other way to tell her that?

Draco: It was the only way to be 100% clear.

Ginny: Okay, and, the fact you destroyed her whole self-image, that is okay?

Draco: For clarity, it's Amber who came on to me. Okay, I kissed her, once, and then she wanted more, and more.

Ginny: I thought you guys didn't have sex?

Draco: We didn't, because I stopped her. I never promised her anything. We did kiss, yes. But you… you, so necessarily, had to raze me to the ground in front of the whole school. You feel good about that? Or does that suddenly make you the good guy in the story? The good one that is now, standing here, with me. Behind her friend's back?

Ginny: …It's good you said sorry.

Draco: Is it? I hope you're right. Because now, she's fully back into me. And I ain't.

Ginny: … I should go. Time's over.

Draco: No, it's not.

Draco caught Ginny's wrist, holding her back. She then looked him straight in the eye.

Ginny: It is for me. I've heard enough.

Draco looked into ginny's eyes, realized she was not about to change her mind and let go off her wrist.

Draco: I'll walk you back.

Ginny: No, thanks.

Draco: You sure?

Ginny: Yes.

Ginny made her way to the trapdoor, but before she climbed off the tower, she turned back to Draco.

Ginny: For clarity, I want nothing more to do with you. And you stay away from Amber.

Ginny had never seen a Malfoy look disappointed, until now. Draco swallowed hard.

Draco: Yeah.

Ginny had to force herself to turn around and walk away. But couldn't deny there was something in her that wanted to stay, to talk some more and get to know the actual Draco Malfoy. She knew, however, she could not, and therefore, would not.